Court jails motorcycle rider 2 months for theft, assault

NAN-H-10

Imprisonment

By Nana Musa

Abuja Feb. 9, 2017 (NAN) A Grade 1 Area Court sitting in Karimo, Abuja, on Thursday sentenced a 20-year-old motorcycle operator, Mutari Abdullahi, to two months in prison for assault and theft.

The Presiding Judge, Alhaji, Abubakar Sadiq, however, gave Abdullahi an option to pay N8, 000 as fine, and warned him to desist from crimes.

Sadiq, who also ordered the convict to pay N7, 000 to the nominal complainant, said the sentence would serve as deterrent to other would be offenders.

Abdullahi, who resides at Dei-dei, Abuja, was convicted on a two-count charge.

The convict, who claimed he was not thinking right on the day he committed the crimes, prayed the court to temper justice with mercy.

Prosecutor, Florence Auhioboh had told the court that Heomeke Saliu of Gwagwa Village, Abuja, reported the matter at the Karimo Police Station on Feb. 7.

Auhioboh said Saliu had boarded Abdullahi’s motorcycle from Gwagwa to Karimo Market and they had settled for a fee of N100.

He said the convict stopped halfway to the agreed destination and when the complainant demanded that they completed the journey he became aggressive.

The prosecutor said he assaulted Saliu and also stole her N7, 500 meant for purchase of food at the market.

According to the prosecutor, the complainant raised alarm which attracted passersby and the convict was subsequently arrested by the police.

Auhioboh, who said the charges were punishable under sections 265 and 287 of the Penal Code, told the court that Abdullahi confessed to the crimes during police investigation. (NAN)

NHM/DOR/OFN
Edited by Nyisom Dore//Felix Nwadioha